The ship’s company of the Portsmouth-based frigate are currently deployed on patrol in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

They were on a visit to the island of Anguilla when the drugs bust took place.

At the request of the Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF), HMS Lancaster’s Lynx helicopter took to the air with two island detectives on board, to scour the island for cannabis plantations.

Three potential sites were identified and when the helicopter touched down, a team of policemen from the RAPF raided the locations.

Despite making no arrests, they seized 204 cannabis plants.

Lieutenant Chris Easterbrook pilots HMS Lancaster’s Lynx helicopter.

He said: ‘The island is covered in dense foliage but between the aircrew and the RAPF officers we were able to spot three sites which we suspected of being cannabis plantations.

‘Two sites were fairly modest in size but one was the largest I have seen since we have been in the Caribbean.

‘It was an absolutely pleasure to work with the RAPF and incredibly satisfying to know that our co-operation furthered Anguilla’s efforts to eradicate cannabis.’

The Royal Anguilla Police Force destroyed the cannabis plants.

HMS Lancaster is visiting British Overseas Territories as part of a six-month deployment.

This week, the Type 23 frigate visits Puerto Rico to pick up a law enforcement detachment from the US Coast Guard and begin counter-narcotic operations.